Scottish couple celebrate £161m win on Euromillions lottery

Colin and Chris Weir scoop Europe's biggest ever lottery win, with their £161
million jackpot. The couple are deciding how to spend the money and say they
plan to by homes for their children and travel to China and Australia.

4:18PM BST 15 Jul 2011

Colin Weir, 64, and his wife Chris, 55, said they checked their numbers at midnight after a "normal night in front of the TV watching CSI".

Mrs Weir, a psychiatric nurse, said: "We had bought five lucky dips as the jackpot was now so big. I started circling the numbers I had matched but wasn't doing very well.

"Then on the fifth line all the circles seemed to join up. I had all of them but couldn't believe what I was seeing. I checked three or four times before going back downstairs to find Colin. He knew immediately by my face and tone that something was up."

The couple, from the seaside town of Largs in Ayrshire, scooped the jackpot of £161,653,000 ranking them 430th in the Sunday Times UK Rich List, just behind the Beckhams.

Their immediate plans include buying homes for their son and daughter,and new cars. But the couple said they are most excited about by the travel opportunities.

Chris Weir added that her husband had never been keen on travelling but hoped that “first class” trips could persuade him.

"We have both always wanted to see the Great Wall of China and Colin would love to stand at the foot of Ayers Rock in Australia. We also love galleries so this gives us the chance to visit those in Paris and in Russia."

The couple matched the winning numbers - 17, 19, 38, 42 and 45, and the Lucky Stars 9 and 10 - at odds of 116 million to one.